Shloka 43
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
हीयमानेन वै सन्धि: पर्येष्टव्य:ः समेन वा । विग्रहो वर्धमानेन मतिरेषा बृहस्पते:,“बृहस्पतिकी यह नीति है कि जब अपना बल कम या बराबर जान पड़े तो शत्रुके साथ संधि कर लेनी चाहिये। लड़ाई तो उसी वक्त छेड़नी चाहिये, जब अपनी शक्ति शत्रुसे बढ़ी- चढ़ी हो
sañjaya uvāca |
hīyamānena vai sandhiḥ paryeṣṭavyaḥ samena vā |
vigraho vardhamānena matireṣā bṛhaspateḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “When one’s strength is declining—or even when it is merely equal—one should seek a treaty. But when one’s power is on the rise, then one should choose open conflict. Such, they say, is the counsel of Bṛhaspati.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a principle of statecraft: seek peace or alliance when your power is weakening or only equal to the opponent’s, but undertake war when your strength is increasing—attributing this pragmatic counsel to Bṛhaspati.
Sañjaya reports a maxim of political wisdom within the war narrative, framing decisions about treaty (sandhi) versus conflict (vigraha) as contingent on relative strength, and citing Bṛhaspati as the authoritative source.